How the period of reconstruction and westward expansion was more detrimental than benifical

In your essay the argument you make must be focused on two documents from Voices of Freedom, as well as two examples from the lectures for a total of four specific examples.  You will be graded primarily on the selection of your examples as well as your ability to explain how they support your argument.  Explaining your examples is different than describing the examples.  That is, we don’t need an extensive description of the example (what it is, how it came to be, etc…), but rather you want to spend the majority of your time explaining how the example supports the argument you are making.  Be sure to argue how the period was detrimental or beneficial by explaining who was hurt and how they were hurt, and how the detriments or benefits were bad or good for the nation as a whole and not just those who were directly affected.  You want to do more than just say the period was bad or good because these things were bad or good.  You want to make a coherent and connected argument about HOW the period was either beneficial or detrimental.  Essays should be about 3-4 pages, typed and doubled-spaced, and submitted as either a .docx or .pdf file format.  Parenthetical citations for the documents should include the author and name of the document and page number of cited material (for Kindle users use the location number).  Citations for the lectures should include the title of the lecture.  All citations can be placed in parentheses within the text of the essay.  Full citations are only necessary if you utilize sources other than the lectures or Voices of Freedom.